Shaft-coupling for vehicles



E. B. JOHNSON.

SHAFT COUPLING FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION man MAYIS, 1918.

1,332,343. Patenteti M21920.

' ELMER B. JOHNSON, OF BLAIR, WISCONSIN.

SHAFT-COUPLING FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

Application filed May 13, 1918. Serial'No. 234,221.

T all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, Emma B. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Blair, in the .county of Trempealeau, State of lVisconsin,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shaft Couplings forVehicles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is an improvement in running gear for vehicles and hasparticular reference to a shaft coupling for binder and mower trucks.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved coupling of simple,eifective and inexpensive construction whereby a shaft or tongue may beconnected to the draw bar of a vehicle at two points and yet in suchmanner as to permit of a relative movement between said parts when thevehicle is traveling over uneven ground.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety ofmechanical expres sions one of which, for the purpose of illustratingthe invention, is shown in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 isa side elevation of the coupling showing the same attached to the drawbar of a hinder or mower truck.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough.

Fig. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the coupling.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing in which likereference characters indicate similar parts, the numeral 5 indicates thedraw bar of a binder or mower truck to which the shaft or tongue 6 isadapted to be connected although it will be understood that theconnection may be utilized for the purpose of securing together theshafts and draw bars of other machines or vehicles other than thoseabove mentioned.

The coupling is shown in what is now believed to be its preferred form.A single sheet of any desirable material is bent along parallel lines toprovide a substantially U- shaped body portion 7 which forms a channelfor receiving the outer or forward eX tremity of the draw bar 5 and saiddraw bar is secured in the body portion by means of the shaft supportingplates 9 arranged inspaced parallel relation with respect to each otherand said plates are preferably made of a width substantially the same asthat of the sides of the body portion. These plates are providedadjacent their inner ends with the oppositely disposed holes 10 forreceiving a pivot pin 11 which extends through the inner end of theshaft 6 mounted between said plates whereby to pivotally connect theshaft to the coupling and draw bar in such manner as to permit of avertical swinging movement of the shaft. Adjacent the outer ends of theplates 9 the same are provided with transverse vertically disposed slots1-2 struck on arcs around said holes. In the slots are movable laterallyeX- tending pins 13 in the shaft 6 whereby the swinging movement of theshaft will be limited by engagement of the pins 13 with the ends of saidslots. By reason of the relative movement between the shaft and draw barit will be apparent that excessive movements of the vehicle andconsequently the draw bar will not be transmitted to the shaft when thevehicle is traveling over uneven ground and strains upon the draftanimals which would be otherwise occasioned if the shaft were rigidlyconnected to the draw bar will thereby be avoided.

By this construction it will be seen that the draw bar is connected withthe body of the coupling by two bolts 8 as shown herein, and it ispossible to use additional bolts .or fastening means if desired. Alsothe tongue or shaft is connected with the plates of the coupling by twoelements such as the bolts or pins 11 and 13, and draft on this memberis transmitted to the bar 5 through several points. In other words, pullon the shaft is communicated through the belts or pins 11 and 12 to theplates 9 and the body. 7, and by the latter through the bolts 8 and 8 tothe tongue 5; and if the vehicle should be backed by the team, the' pushof the latter will also be communicated through these several points. Inone action the shaft! draws the rear edges of the slots against the pins13, and in the other action the shaft pushes their front edges againstsaid pins, 7

this result flowing from the fact that the slots are struck on arcsaround the pivot pin 11.

The invention also includes means for further relieving the strain uponthe draft animals due to the weight of the draw bar and forward part ofthe machine and, to this end, the forward end of the draw bar hasdepending therefrom and extending through the bottom of the body portion7 a pivot 14: upon which is revolubly mounted a bearing 15 having theforks 16 depending therefrom and carrying a shaft 17 at their lower endsupon which is mounted a ground wheel 18 adapted for engagement with theground whereby to support the weight of the draw 7 bar and forward partof the machine in such manner as to relieve the draft animals of thisweight and the consequent strain which would be incident thereto.

What is claimed is The herein described shaft coupling comprising achanneled body in which the front end of the draw bar (if a vehicle isbolted, the sides of said body being continued forward in parallelplates spaced to receive the rear end of the shaft, the plates havingopposite holes forward of the body and opposite slots forward of theholes and struck on arcs around said holes, a pivot pin through theholes and shaft, and pins in said shaft movable in said slots for thepurpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

ELMER B. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

O. B. BoRsHEIM, ELVIDA ELLAND.

